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Catnip and Culprits: Pets Reporter Mystery
Visit the most pets-obsessed town in America to solve a mystery!
You'll love the introduction to this cozy series. When a knitting group creates mice toys for charity, something is wrong when a whole bag of donations goes missing. Reporter Sam Hodges must solve the case!
You'll love the introduction to this cozy series. When a knitting group creates mice toys for charity, something is wrong when a whole bag of donations goes missing. Reporter Sam Hodges must solve the case!
- GenresCozy MysteryAnimals
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2021
196 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Kyla Colby
10 books21 followersKyla Colby is a longtime mystery fan and former Pets Reporter. She now writes psychological thrillers under the pen name Kyla Sharp. Find her new books at www.kylasharp.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 9, 2021
Cute prologue with interesting characters who methodically single out a killer and thief among their small craft group.
August 14, 2021
A novella that is a cute introduction to a series by Kyla Colby. Samantha (Sam for short) Hodges is finishing her last story about a local charity to submit to "Birchwood Bugle" in Illinois. The feature story will complete her summer internship before she leaves for her new internship at the "Minneapolis Times" in Minnesota. I love the name of the charity, "Catnip Cnitters" and their goal to send 5,000 toys to feline shelters around Illinois. The toys are either knitted or crocheted mice filled with catnip. But, alas, 500 of the mice are discovered to be missing as the group thinks they are about to meet the goal for the scheduled distribution by a group member. Sam is ready to celebrate with friends but is now worried that the theft could compromise her story. Luckily, her friends also love a good mystery and deem themselves available to investigate and solve the dilemma.
It's a wonderful addition to introduce middle teen to college graduates to the next level of cozy mysteries they will enjoy reading especially those that love felines. There are 2 other aspects of the story that are introduced through the storyline that give strength to my recommendation. One is the positivity of adults and young people using their knitting and crocheting talents to work together toward the common goal of helping rescue animals. These particular group members don't even have cats themselves but love animals. The second is the positivity of Sam's friends willingness to help her delaying their own celebration plans together for the evening until the mystery is solved.
It's a wonderful addition to introduce middle teen to college graduates to the next level of cozy mysteries they will enjoy reading especially those that love felines. There are 2 other aspects of the story that are introduced through the storyline that give strength to my recommendation. One is the positivity of adults and young people using their knitting and crocheting talents to work together toward the common goal of helping rescue animals. These particular group members don't even have cats themselves but love animals. The second is the positivity of Sam's friends willingness to help her delaying their own celebration plans together for the evening until the mystery is solved.
February 11, 2021
A short little read that involves a mystery and a group working together to do what they have a passion for.
January 25, 2021
This is a cute novella. The mystery is not complex as a couple friends investigate missing crochet catnip toys which are being made for charity. It felt like a Nancy Drew mystery. I really enjoy reading short books over the weekend and this one can be completed in just a couple of hours. I'll have to check to see if there are anymore in this series or if there will be.
March 1, 2021
Nice quick read
November 2, 2021
This book puzzled me. Everything about it: cover style, title, blurb, and the categories it was sold in all placed it firmly as a cozy mystery. When I started reading it, that assumption was initially confirmed. The main character is a young woman who has dreams of making it big as a journalist but is currently living and working in a small town. We even get a reasonable helping of cats and crafts.
The problems come as the story progresses. The crime which kicks it all off is distinctly underwhelming. It boils down to an argument between crocheting crafters about how many catnip-filled cat toys they have made. There’s no murder, and not really even a theft. There’s no action or jeopardy, just a bunch of people in a deserted school talking to each other. While I could imagine this not being a problem if the characters were intriguing enough to want to get to know them, but that’s not the case either. I had a tough time remembering which suspect was which, and they didn’t seem to be distinct in speech or mannerisms.
By the end, the whole book is a bit of an anticlimax. Nothing has really been resolved, and our would-be journalist walks away without even the juicy news story she hoped for. We don’t even get any more idea of whether she will make the big career move or not.
One way or another, this book didn’t do it for me, so I won’t be rushing to read any more.
The problems come as the story progresses. The crime which kicks it all off is distinctly underwhelming. It boils down to an argument between crocheting crafters about how many catnip-filled cat toys they have made. There’s no murder, and not really even a theft. There’s no action or jeopardy, just a bunch of people in a deserted school talking to each other. While I could imagine this not being a problem if the characters were intriguing enough to want to get to know them, but that’s not the case either. I had a tough time remembering which suspect was which, and they didn’t seem to be distinct in speech or mannerisms.
By the end, the whole book is a bit of an anticlimax. Nothing has really been resolved, and our would-be journalist walks away without even the juicy news story she hoped for. We don’t even get any more idea of whether she will make the big career move or not.
One way or another, this book didn’t do it for me, so I won’t be rushing to read any more.
February 19, 2021
This is just a short story and the first time reading this author. The main character is Sam a reporter writing her last story before she leave town for her next job. The story is about a cat charity making catnip mouses but suddenly 500 have disappeared. Sam starts to investigate and before long she thinks she knows who did it. It's a real nice short story.
March 8, 2021
Who Stole the Catnip Mice
To help out a charity,, a group have been making catnip mice to donate to pet stores. Their goal is 5,000 cute bright colored mice but right before they are to be shipped out over 500 disappear. A newspaper writer is asked to help find the mice and the guilty party. Who could it be?
To help out a charity,, a group have been making catnip mice to donate to pet stores. Their goal is 5,000 cute bright colored mice but right before they are to be shipped out over 500 disappear. A newspaper writer is asked to help find the mice and the guilty party. Who could it be?
May 11, 2021
This was a nice comfortable read. No pressure, not a serious mystery, fun exposure of the characters in the story. Tried to pull the pets in, but they did not make the story. A good feel about volunteers and their charitable contributions. We also get to see young adults looking forward to their futures.
October 4, 2021
Sam investigates
This is a very short read, not very exciting but with enough excitement to make me want to finish the book without skipping pages. Characters are well developed, to the point where I could begin to have preferences, the main character, Sam was a favorite, the senior janitor was not.
This is a very short read, not very exciting but with enough excitement to make me want to finish the book without skipping pages. Characters are well developed, to the point where I could begin to have preferences, the main character, Sam was a favorite, the senior janitor was not.
June 10, 2025
Cute short story. The main character is Sam who is a reporter and is writing her last story before she leaves for her next job. The story is about a cat charity whose members are making catnip mice, but discover that 500 are missing. Sam decides to investigate and soon discovers who the guilty party is.
April 30, 2021
This takes place in August in a fictional suburb of Chicago. The story involves a crochet group and theft. It was quick and fun. I thought the thief would be someone else. The reason wasn't what I expected it to be either.
July 6, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this introductory debut to the mystery series and its cast of unusual characters within the chapters one at a time honestly - especially their quirks!! I hope the next book contains actual kitties - amen!
January 22, 2021
Sweet short story
Fun characters working on crocheting toy catnip mice for pet charities. An eager young reporter just out of college helps solve what happened to missing mice
Fun characters working on crocheting toy catnip mice for pet charities. An eager young reporter just out of college helps solve what happened to missing mice
February 2, 2021
Easy Read
Was looking for a quick and enjoyable book. This book covered both . It was a quick read and had a nice twist to the ending.
Was looking for a quick and enjoyable book. This book covered both . It was a quick read and had a nice twist to the ending.
February 11, 2021
Good mini mystery
I enjoyed reading this short story. The author weaves a good mystery. Find out who done it, read Catnip and Culprits. Thanks!
I enjoyed reading this short story. The author weaves a good mystery. Find out who done it, read Catnip and Culprits. Thanks!
February 14, 2021
Short and sweet ❣️
April 16, 2021
Juvenile plot and writing.
January 1, 2024
It's a short read but a nice introduction for a series.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews